Exhibition device.



A, WAYRICH.

EXHIBITION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26. I917.

1,299,523, Patented Apr. 8, 191$;

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. WAYRICH.

EXHIBITION DEVICE.

, APPLICATION FILED IUNE26. I91].

1 ,299,523, Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

A. 'WAYRICH.

EXHIBITION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26 1917'.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Af/Orey A. WAYRICH.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. 22 Wfinessea: Y 4

mam b W y W A//@ my 22 Q J //2l/e/2/0/ NTTED sages am ALEXANDER WAYRICH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

EXHIBITION DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 19199.

Application filed June 26, 1917. Serial No. 176,938.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER WAYRICH, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn borough, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Exhibition Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for exhibiting a series of scenes or views in succession, to represent a progression of ideas, and is an improvement on my Patent No. 1,154,950.

The present invention is for the purpose of effecting a rapid change in bringing different exhibits, which require separate stagesettings, to a common point of View, particularly where the exhibits are numerous and the floor space is limited. Each scene or exhibition is set up in a separate compartment or box-like stage. The several stages or compartments are interchangeable from a retired position to an individual position of observation. Some of the compartments are mounted on trucks, so as to be moved horizontally for rapidly substituting one for the other. suspended by ropes and raised and-lowered in the manner of elevators, and in this way substituted rapidly one for the other. Thus, floor space is economized, which is an advantage particularl in fair and exposition buildings, where ex ibition space is usually limited. V

Two sets of compartments arranged at right angles to each other are employed in combination with a plate-glass or mirror arranged at an angle of 45 degrees relatively to each set, each set having both horizontally and vertically movable compartments.

One object of this invention is to exhibit successive views which may include one orboth sets of compartments.

Another object-is to exhibitviews which blend into each other during the changing from one view to another, in vwhich case both-sets of compartments are employed in combination with each other and with the transparent mirror.

To reduce the floor space. to a minimum the two sets are arranged so that compartments of each set may move crosswise of each others path of travel.

Others of the compartments are Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. l

In the accompanyingdrawings, I

Figure 1 is a horizontal s ctional View, showing my invention, in whic' two sets of compartments or stages are placed at right angles to each other, and the scenes viewed individually through the aid of a plate-glass which acts selectively as a mirror, or as a transparent medium.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective View showing how a considerable number of stages or compartments can be viewed individually from a common point.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, of one set of compartments, with-parts broken away to show the underlying structure.

Fig. 4 is a view of one set in elevation,

with the wall broken away to show the relative arrangement of the compartments. Fig. 5 is a vertical section, taken from front to rear of Fig. f.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, taken about midway of the frame, showing-one of the compartments with its stage-setting in its position. v

Figs. 7 to 11 are diagrammatic views, in front elevation, showing the manner of shifting the various compartments up and brought in succession to a position to be seen singly by the audience thus permitting ten different views to be presented. The viewpoint may be at a point in front of a main frame 10. As stated before, there are five compartments ineach set, indicated by the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and the compartments of each set are adapted to be brought 7 into coiiperative relation with their respective frames 11 and 11 The compartments are box-like in-structure, those of one set having an open front to come in register with an opening in the frame 11 at right angles to the main frame 10, so that when any compartment is back of its frame 11 or 11, it fits the frame closely enough to prevent accidental illumination of its interior and forms an inclosedstage adapted to be viewed through a transparent mirror 12 or reflected thereby, with the result that any stage-setting or people therein will be viewed by the audience according to which of the compartments in register is illuminated.

The compartments 1 and 2 of each set form a unit suspended by means of ropes 13 on a framework 14 of which the e is one for each set. These frame-work enable each compartment tobe readily shifted individually into register with its frame 11 or 11 from either across or above or below-the same as the case may be. The weight of these compartments 1 and 2 and their con-- tents is counterbalanced by means of weights 13*, connected to the opposite ends of the ropes 13, which pass over pulleys 15. Each framework 14 forms a shaft which includes four corner posts or rails 17 arranged to be engaged by guidin rollers 17 provided on the sides of the co partments 1 and 2. This will enable these compartments to move evenly in a horizontal position.

Each framework 14 forms a shaft for its compartment 3 also, which has guiding rollers 18 to engage the vertical rails or cor: ner posts similar to the compartments 1 and 2., The compartment?) is also hoisted up and down' by means of a rope 19 extending overulleys 20 and havingcounterbalances 21. Th order to avoid conflict between the two systems of ropes, the ropes 19 are connected to brackets 22, which project downwa'rdly and outwardly from the bottom of the compartment 3. In connection with this compartment, only two ropes are used, and they are connected to the compartment 3 at diagonally opposite corners, so as to have'a smooth action.

While -more compartments might be arranged to be moved vertically, it has been found better for convenience of operation and substitution one for the other, tohave certain of the compartments moved in from the side. .For this purpose, the compartments 4 and 5 are separately mounted on wheel-trucks 23, which travel onhorizontal rails 24, extending from both sides of the.

frames 11 and 11 and across the rear of each. As herein illustrated there is spacev enough above the frame 11 to permit thecompartments 1 and 2 to be moved to the upper position shown in Figs. 10 and 11,when it is desired to bring one of the side compartments 4 or 5 to exhibiting position. 'Inorder topermit this, the horizontal rails 24, Fig. 3, are

' arranged outside of the vertical line of two jection' of the Vertical guide rails 17,.and the This enables interchange of horizontal and vertical compartments at the openings 11, 11. Without interference. The outer movements of the compartments 4 and 5 may be liniited by bumpers 25, having cooperative parts on the bed or floor on which the rails 24 are mounted and the com artments 4 and 5.

For the purpose of Hg ting up the compartments when in position in back of their respective frames 11 or 11?, each' frame is provided with a recess 26, extending along the sides of the frames and forming a reflector for a series of electirc lights 27 .27, which prevents their being seen from the front and throws-all the light right into the compartment in frame. v y

In order that the set ofstages or compartments may be viewed through the frame 11 to have their contents viewed from a common point, the plate-glass 12 is placed at substan- W tially 45 degrees to the two frames 11 and 11, or, in other words,- bisecting the anglebetween them. This plate glass acts as a transparent medium when viewed from the front through the main frame 10, if the lights 27 on the frame 11 are lighted up. If.

however, the lights 27 of; the frame Il -are lighted up and the lights 27 are out," the plate-glass 12 will act a mirror,.permit-- tlng the scene in the compartment in register wlth theframe 11 to be viewed from the.

front of the frame 10. both sets of lights 27 and 27 are lit, there twill be a melting of 27 and 27 are lighted, there will be a melting of one view into the other.

' In order to dazzle the eyes of the observer, so that the change behind the frame 10 will not be noticeable, and to disguise the change.

compartments or stages cooperating with the frame 11 are five in number and may be interchanged with each other alternately with the other set of compartments. To effect this, the left-hand compartment 1 (Fig. 2) may be first viewed through the mirror 12 by lighting the lights 27. Then the position in backof its respectivev lights 27 may be darkened and the lights 27 brightened. This will illuminate the righthand compartment 4 so that it will be seen in the mirror. Now the left-hand compartment 1 may be lifted, bringing the left-hand compartment 2 behind the mirror. This movement will not be observed owing to the fact that both the latter compartments are dark. Then the left-hand compartment 2 may be illuminated by the lights 27, and the right-hand compartment 4 darkened by darkening the lights 27 Now the righthand compartment 4 may be moved out of position unobserved, by moving it to the right, pushing its compartment 5 ahead of it. Then the right-hand compartment 2 (or 1 or 3) may be lowered to position, and then illuminated while the left-hand compartment 2 is darkened, to permit the latter to be lifted and another compartment substituted therefor, either being lifted or slid sidewise into the two sets of place. Thus, by arrangin compartments at right ang es to each other and manipulating the compartments in each set in the manner described, ten different scenes may be packed in a very small compass, and viewed successively from a com mon point. In this way, one view maybe made .to fade into another view, which,'in case the views are closely matched, may be done without the change being noticeable. At least, the effect will be one of illusion, giving the observer the impression that one scene changes bodily into another.

By an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be seen that the horizontal track-ways 24 associated with one set of compartments cross those of the other set of compartments. This per? mits "the compartments to be normally arranged as in Fig. 2, where the compartment 5 of oneset is 1n the path of the compartment 4 of the other set By this overlapping arrangement of the two sets of comparts ments, the floor space which they occupy is reducedvto a minimum.

If it is desired to show ten successive views, it maybe accomplished by manipulating the compartments in the order illustrated in Figs. 7 toll. The compartment 5 of the first set is finally brought to the Fig. 11 position, when the track-way ofthe' other set of compartments will be clear. The compartments of the second set are now mampulated' to be exposed in the 'following'order,

4, 5, 3, 2, 1, thus bringing the compartments J to a osition, relatively to each other. corresponding to the position WhlCll the first set originally occupied.

- Variations may be resorted towithin the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim: b

l. The combination with a frame offering a common viewpoint, of a plurality of com-v between the vertical compartments, and

thereby minimize space.

2. The combination with a frame, of a defleeting screen for said frame, at times transparent, at times opaque, according to .whether the greatest light is in front or in back of the frame, a plurality of compartments disposed'for horizontal movement between the position to one side of the frame and in back of the frame, truck rails for said compartments, trucks for said compartments mounted on said truck rails, a plurality of compartments mounted for vertical movement past the frame, so as to 'be brought into individual register with said 'frame, and hoisting means for said verticallymoving compartments, some of said vertically moving. compartments moving together as a unit and another moving separately. Y

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having an opening, of a compartment having walls around an open side adapted to fit said frame closely, a pair of rails on which said compartment may be carried horizontally to and from the opening, a second compartment adapted to slide vertically between said rails and also adapted in sliding to fit closely said frame, and means for raising and lowering said second compartment to and from said frame. 5 v

4. In a device of the class described, the

combination 'with a frame having an openan open side adapted to fit said frame closely, a horizontal track clear of the opening and overlapping the frame, to guide said compartment to and from the opening, a second compartment having walls around an open side adapted to fit closely said framefa vertical track clear of the opening adapted to guide said second compartment to and from the opening, and means for raising and lowering said second compartment to and from the frame.

5. In a device of the.class described, the

* combination with a frame having an opening, of a compartment having walls around an open side adapted to fit said frame closely, a horizontal track including a rail in front of the compartment and overlap ping the-frame on Whicli'said compartment may slide to and from the opening, a second compartment also adapted to fit the frame &

ing, and vertical rails intersecting one or both of the horizontal rails, broken away at the'rail intersection, and adapted to guide the second compartment vertically to and from the opening.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having an opening, of a compartment having walls around an open side adapted to fit said frame closely, a horizontal track including a rail in front of the compartment and overlapping the frame on which said compartment may slide to and from the opening, a second compartment also adapted vto fit the frame closely, a vertical track for said second compartment clear of the path of the first compartment, means for raising and lowering said second compartment to and from the opening, a third and fourth compartment, a second frame which said third and fourth compartments may fit closely and having an opening, and a second horizontal rail crossing the first horizontal rail and adapted to guide the third and fourth compartments to the second frame opening.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having an opening, of a compartment having walls around an open side adapted to fit said frame closely, a horizontal track including two rails between which said compartment runs, one rail lying along the body of said frame, so that the edge of the opening lies between the rail and compartment, said compartment adapted to slide on said rails to and from the opening, a second compartment also adapted to fit; the frame closely, a vertical track for said second compartment clear of the track of the first compartment and extending both above and below said firstn ed trac and means for raising and lowering said second compartment to and from the opening.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having an opening, of a compartment having walls around an open side adapted to fit said frame closely, a track including two rails between which said compartment runs, one rail lying along th body of said frame, so that the edge of the opening lies between the rail and compartment, said compartment adaptmesses a third compartment, a horizontal track for said third compartment so located that the edge of the opening lies between the track and the compartment, a fourth compartment, and a vertical track for said fourth compartment crossing the horizontal track of the third compartment and standing clear of the path of the third compartment.

ing, a second frame comprising an opening,

10. In a. device of the class described, the I combination with a frame having an opening, of a compartment having walls around an open side adapted to fit said frame closely, a pair of rails on which the compartment may be carried horizontally to and from the opening, said rails having a greater span than the depth of the compartment, a second compartment adapted to slide vertically between said rails and also adaptedin slidingto fit close to said frame, a second frame having an opening, a third compartment adapted to fit said second frame closely, a pair of rails on which said third compartment is adapted to slide horizontally to and from its opening, said last-named rails having a greater span than the depth of the compartment, and a fourth compartment adapted to slide vertically between said lastfit close to said second frame.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having an opening, of a compartment having walls around an open side adapted to fit said frame closely, a pair of rails on which the compartment may be carried horizontally to and from the opening, said rails having a greater span than the depth of the compartment, a second compartment adapted to slide vertically between said rails and also adapted in sliding to fit close to said frame, a second frame having an opening, a third "compartment adapted to fit said second frame closely, a pair of rails ,on which said third compartment is adapted to slide horizontally to and from its opening, said last-named rails having a greater span than the depth of the compartment, said last-named rails extending across said first-named rails, so that the first and third compartments may alternately occupy the same space, and a fourth compartment adapted to slide verti- Cally between said last-named rail and also adapted in sliding to fit close to said second frame.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having an opennamed rail and also adapted in sliding to ing and compartments adapted to be selectively positioned behind said frame, of a second frame having an opening, a second set of compartments adapted to be selectively positioned behind said second frame,

tracks having rails spaced farther apart than the depth of the compartments for supporting certain compartments to enable them to be moved horizontally, vertical tracks crossing said horizontal tracks and similarly spaced adapted to permit compartments to be selectively spaced vertically, and a second'set of horizontal and vertical tracks for the second opening.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having an opening and compartments adapted to be selec tively positioned behind said frame, of a second frame having an opening, a second set of compartments adapted to be selectively positioned behind said second frame, tracks having rails spaced farther apart than the depth of the compartments for supporting certain compartments to enable them to be moved horizontally, vertical tracks crossing said horizontal tracks and similarly spaced adapted to permit compartments to be selectively spaced vertically, a second set of horizontal and vertical tracks for the second opening, and counterweights connected to the vertically moving compartments to enabl them to be moved easily.

ALEXANDER WAYRICH. Witnesses:

ARTHUR A. JOHNSON, EDITH B. LIBBEY. 

